Sermon of Recognition of Noor (light) (Khutba-e-Marefat-e-Nooraniya)

SHAAFQNA- Janabe Salman and Janabe Abu Zarr asked Ameerul Momineen (A.S) about the true nature of the Noor (light) of Imam Ali (A.S). Imam Ali (A.S) replied:
“RasoolAllah (P.B.U.H) has said, “Recognition of Ali ibn Abi Talib (A.S) as Noor is in fact the recognition of Allah (P.B.U.H). Recognition of Allah (P.B.U.H) in terms of His Noor is the pure religion (deen).”
Then Imam Ali (A.S) said:
“He who has only outward belief in My Wilayat while inwardly having animosity will obtain no benefit from any of His deeds.”
“O Salman! Only when one recognizes me with My Noor only then will he be able to attain faith (iman). Only those who recognize me with My Noor are the true believers. He is the one whose heart has been tested by Allah with true iman (faith). He is the one in whose heart the true Islam is amplified. Thus he shall become an “Arif” (Gnostic) and “Mastabser” (clairvoyant). The one who does not recognize me with My Noor falls into ambiguity and becomes of those who are followers of satan (shaitan).
O Salman! O Jondab! Verily Recognizing Me as Noor is the recognition of Allah. My Recognition is Allah’s Recognition. Recognition of Allah is Recognition of Me. This is the true religion. Allah did not place upon mankind any order other than to accept Tauheed of Allah (98:5) (Oneness of Allah). Testifying to the prophet hood of Holy Prophet is the true religion. Whenever Allah orders to “establish prayer” it refers to the belief in My Wilayat. One who pledges his allegiance and submits himself completely unto me has truly established “salat” (prayer). Yet this matter is difficult, exceedingly difficult! Zakat (poor rate) is the acknowledgment of the greatness of the attributes of Aimmah (A.S). All of this is the true religion.
As attested to in the Holy Quran, true faith (iman) is the recognition of oneness (tauheed) and the testimony of nabuwat and wilayat. One who acts upon these beliefs achieves religion (deen).
O Salman! O Jondab! One who after being tested by Allah instantly accepts Our Amr (authority) and does not reject any matter which pertains to us is a Momin (Faithful) and Allah will open his heart to the acceptance of Our Amr (authority/command). He will not display even an element of doubt or suspicion. However he who objects with “why and how” becomes a kafir (disbeliever). Therefore be submissive to the Amr of Allah. Verily we are the Amr of Allah (Command of Allah).
O Salman! O Jondab! Verily Allah has made me as His Trustee upon the creation and His Vicegerent upon His earth, in His territories, and over His servants. Allah has blessed me with such attributes that even those people who have true understanding regarding the merits of such blessings and those who have knowledge regarding all matters will still not be able to truly comprehend the status which Allah has blessed me with. A true momin (Faithful) is one who recognizes Me in this manner.
O Salman! Allah said, “Do not seek the help of Allah except through patience and prayer”. Patience is Muhammad and Prayer is My Wilayat. This is why Allah has declared it to be difficult to understand such attributes. In truth My Wilayat is exceedingly difficult except for those whose souls are submissive. Thus My Wilayat has been made easier by Allah upon those whose souls have submitted.
O Salman! We are those Secrets of Allah which shall not be hidden. We are His Noor that can never be extinguished. And we are those blessings which can never be matched. Our first is Muhammad, Our middle is Muhammad, and our last is Muhammad. One who recognizes us in this way is a follower of the true religion.
O Salman! O Jondab! Muhammad and I are one Noor. And before all other creations had been created we were already reciting the praises of Allah. We were the cause of the creation of the entire universe. Then Allah divided this Noor into two parts; first was His prophet Mustafa (S.A.W) and His Successor Murtaza. Then Allah said to each half “Be Muhammad!” “Be Ali!” This is the reason RasoolAllah said, “I am from Ali and Ali is from me. None other than me and Ali are able to convey the Divine Message of Allah.” In Quran where Allah says “انفسنا و انفسکم (3:61)” (ourselves and yourselves) is a reference to our being One Essence in worlds of spirits and noor (Alam e Arwah and Anwar). And where Allah says “If He has died or is slain (3:144)” “died” is a reference to the death of Prophet and “slain” is in reference to the martyrdom of His Successor. As we are One Essence and One Noor. We are one in purpose and attributes. However we are different in our bodies and names, but in Alam e Arwah We are One Noor. As RasoolAllah (P.B.U.H) said, “O Ali, You are My Soul which is inside of me. In this world of creation RasoolAllah (P.B.U.H) said, “You are from me and I am from you. You are my inheritor and I am your inheritor. You are the Soul of My body.” Allah says, “Sallu illay wa salamu tasleema”. “Sallu illay” (sending blessings on Him) is reference to Muhammad and “salamu tasleema” (acknowledge Him) is reference to Me (Ali). Allah joined me with Muhammad in One Noor and then split that Noor into two beings based upon Their Names and Attributes. Then Allah ordered His creation to send blessings upon Muhammad and salam upon His successor Ali. RasoolAllah (P.B.U.H) said, “One shall not gain any benefit or reward from sending blessings unto me until he submits to the Wilayat e Ali.”
O Salman! O Jondab! During His time Muhammad was “speaking” (natiq) and I was “silent” (samit). During every era both “natiq” and “samit” are present. Remember, Muhammad is the Master of those who shall gather on the Day of Judgment and I am the Master of Resurrection. Muhammad is the Warner and I am the one who guides. Muhammad is the Lord of Jannah and I am the Lord of Return (Rajat). Muhammad (P.B.U.H) is the Lord of Hawz e Kausar (divine spring) and I am standard bearer (Sahib E Lawa) of the flag which will be raised on the Day of Judgment. Muhammad is the Lord of the Keys to the Gates of Jannah and I am the Lord of paradise and hell (Jannah and Jahannum). Muhammad is the Lord of Revelation and I am the Lord of Inspiration. Muhammad is the Lord of Signs and I am the Lord of Miracles. Muhammad is the Seal of all Prophets and I am the Seal of all Successors. Muhammad is the Master who invites the creation towards the religion of Allah and I am the Protector of the Religion. Muhammad is the most generous prophet and I am true path (Sirat ul Mustaqeem). Muhammad is “raoof o raheem” (most kind and merciful) and I am Aliulazeem (most high most great).
O Salman! Allah says “He causes the Spirit to descend upon those whom He chooses” (40:15). This Spirit then descends unto the one entrusted with the Command and the Decree. I (Ali) give life to the dead and possess full knowledge of all things in the heavens and upon the earth. I am Undeniable Book (Kitab ul Mubeen).
O Salman! Muhammad is the one who establishes the Hujjat (proof) and I am Hujjatullah (proof of Allah) upon the creation. And the Spirit ascended with Him unto the heavens. I am the one who enabled Nuh to sail His Ark. I was present with Yunis in the belly of the whale. I parted the sea for Musa to allow Him a safe passage through it. I am the one who destroyed the enemies of Allah. I possess all of the knowledge of the prophets and their successors and I am Fazl al Khatab (a blessed speech). The prophet hood of RasoolAllah was completed through My Wilayat. I cause the rivers and oceans to flow and cause the mountains to rise up from the surface of the earth. I am likened unto the Father of the Earth. I am the wrath of the Day of Judgment. I am that Khizr who taught Musa. I taught Dawood and Solomon. I am Zul Qarnan. I am the one who removes sufferings by the command of Allah. I am the one who spread the earth. I am the one who shall send wrath on the Day of Judgment. I am the one who shall summon all unto Allah on the Day of Judgment. I am Dabba tul Arz (sign of Allah regarding the coming of the Day of Judgment). RasoolAllah said, “O Ali You are Zul Qarnan and its both ends. You were in existence before the beginning of the creation and will remain until its end.”

O Salman! If one dies from amongst Us, He is not dead and if someone is slain from amongst Us, He is not slain. One from amongst Us who is in occultation performs His duties as we do. We are not born in this world the way humans are born in this world. You cannot compare us with mankind. I was the voice of Isa when He spoke from the cradle. I am the helper of Nuh and Ibrahim. I am the one who will send the wrath of Allah. I shall also bring about the trembling and shall cause the final quake. I am the Lohay Mahfooz (Protected Tablet) and all of the knowledge within it originates from me. I can appear in any form by the wish of Allah. Whoever has observed these appearances has seen me and whoever has seen Me as observed the Signs of Allah. We Masoomeen are the Noor of Allah which can never be rejected or changed.
O Salman! Every prophet is honored because of us. You can praise us with whatever titles or attributes within your imagination however do not ascribe God ship (rabuyiat) to us. People find salvation through us and reach their destruction due to us.
O Salman! He who firmly believes in all that I have explained is that momin whose heart has been tested by Allah with iman (true faith) and he has recognized our true status. One who doubts or hesitates is a nasibi (enemy of Allah) even if he claims to believe in our wilayat he is a liar.
O Salman! I and the Divine Guides from My Family, Imams (A.S), are the hidden mystery of Allah and Most Beloved by Him. We are all One. Our Amr (authority) is one. Our mystery is one. Thus do not try to find differences amongst us or you will be killed (go astray). We shall appear in every age by the will of Allah. Afflictions shall be upon the one who denies us. Only those whose hearts, eyes, and ears have been sealed will deny us.
O Salman! I am the Father of every believer. O Salman! I am the most courageous. I shall be coming soon. I will overwhelm all and make their hearts shudder and make them become deaf. I am the “Supreme Test” which shall be revealed unto all. We are the Signs of Allah, His Proofs, and His Veil. We are the Face of Allah. After My Name was written on the Throne of the Sky, it attained its importance. When it was written on the heavens, they became established. When it was written on the earth, it became stable. When My Name was written on the mountains, they became upraised. When it was written on the wind, it began to blow. When it was written on the lightning, it began to flash. When it was written on the raindrops, they began to provide nourishment. When it was written on the Noor, it became radiant. When it was written on the clouds, the rain began to flow from them. When it was written on the thunder, it became quieted. When it was written on the night, it caused the night to become dark. When it was written on the day, it made it luminous and radiant.
(Bihar Ul-Anwar, Vol 26, Pg. 1)